Spark-plug electrode and alloy therefor.



w. B. DRIVER. SPARK PLUG ELECTRODE AND ALLOY THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15. I918.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

i Spark plug electrodes have also been made ATENT FFI WIL'BUB BEDELL DRIVER, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

SPARK-PLUG ELECTRODE AND ALLOY THEREFOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

- Application ill ed. May-15, 1918. Serial No. 234,600.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILBUR B. DRIVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Spark-Plug Electrodes and Alloys Therefor, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to spark plug electrodes and alloys therefor, and has for its object to provide a new and improved spark plug electrode capable of prolonged action in high-powered combustion engines without substantial deterioration, and an alloy suitable for such electrodes.

Heretofore spark plug electrodes have been made of platinum, a metal now unattainable in any amount at a reasonable price and unattainable at any price in quantities suflicient to supply the enormous demands for electrodes if made therefrom.

of an alloy of U nickel and manganese, but these electrodes, while extensively used, have been found to cease to give satisfactory electrical'results after a comparatively short period of use on account of their deterioration under the heat and chemical action to which they are subjected, particularly when used in hi h-powered internal combustion engines. park plugs having electrodes embodying my invention have a slightly higher electrical resistance than the nickelmanganese electrodes, but notwithstanding that fact are much more satisfactory on account of their durability and on account of the fact that they maintain a fixed sparkgap and resistance for a longer period. In

pther words, with spark plug electrodes embodying my invention the conductivity of the secondary circuit, of which the gap forms a portion, is more constant, and the average conductivity of the secondary c1r-.

I cuit with my spark plug electrodes, throughout a long period, is more constant than that of a secondary circuit including the old nickel manganese electrodes. W

In embodying my invention in a spark plug I make-the electrodes -ofa peculiar al- 10y comprising nickel, manganese and chromium. The preferred alloy consists of nickel about ninety-four and one-half (94%) per cent.,manganese about two (2) per cent., and chromium about three and one-half (34 per cent. and unavoidable impurities. The alloy used must be high in nickel, at least eighty (80) per cent. and the manganese and chromium should each be between one (1) and ten (10) per cent. In other words, the manganese .and chromium should each be between one (1) per cent. and ten (10) per cent. and the balance should be nickel substantially. These electrodes do not corrode so as to wear away substantially, or become disintegrated or brittle, and do not when in use, take on any insulating film whlch interferes seriously with their action. 'They may be used in any standard spark plug and produce excellent results.

The accompanying drawings show such a standard spark plug in which 1 'and 2 are largest constituent of the alloy a metal hav-- ing the characteristics common to-nickel and cobalt.

I make no claim for the' structural features of the plug shown in the drawing, such features being old in the" art.

e As will be evident to those skilled in the art, my invention permits of various modifications without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims. What I claim is: 1. In a spark plug, electrodes composed of an alloy comprising manganese and chromium and a metal having the characteristics common to nickel and cobalt, the latter metal constituting over eighty (80) per cent. of the alloy.

2. In a spark plug, electrodes composed of an alloy comprising manganese from one (1) per cent. to ten (10) per cent., and chromium from one (1) per cent. to ten (10) per cent., the. balance being substantially a metal having the characteristics common to nickel and cobalt.

3. In a spark plug, electrodes composed 5 of an alloy comprising manganese about two (2) per cent, chromium about three and one-half (3%) per cent, the balance being substantially nickel.

' 4. An: alloy composed substantially of nickel, manganese and chromium in substan- 1, tially the proportions,-manganese two (2) per cent, chromium three and one-half (39;) per cent, nickel ninety-four and one-half (94%) per cent.

WILBUR BEDELL DRIVER. 

